At Parliament Winter Session, Opposition walks out over SIR; Rijiju insists on dialogue, not deadlines
PTC Web Desk: The opening day of the Winter Session witnessed sharp clashes in Parliament as Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed the Opposition’s demand for an immediate debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Rijiju asserted that the government is willing to discuss the issue but will not be pushed into accepting rigid deadlines.
The uproar erupted after Opposition MPs insisted that the SIR controversy be taken up as the House’s top priority. TMC leader Derek O’Brien accused the government of ignoring public distress, declaring that “people are dying because of SIR,” before staging a walkout along with several Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha.
Despite the protests, Rijiju stood firm, saying the scheduled discussion on Vande Mataram, which he described as a subject “deeply tied to the freedom struggle”, would be held as planned. He urged members not to impose time-bound conditions on parliamentary business. “Everything cannot run mechanically. Parliamentary democracy depends on dialogue and discussion, not deadlines,” he said.
Responding to Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge’s insistence on taking up the matter urgently, Rijiju said that consultations with leaders across parties, both formal and informal, would take place before the discussion begins. Taking a swipe at the Opposition, he added that frustration over electoral setbacks should not translate into disruptions inside the House.
Leader of the House JP Nadda backed Rijiju’s stance, confirming that a meeting between the government and Opposition leaders would be convened “very soon” to decide the course of action.
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day after Opposition members held protests demanding a debate on the SIR exercise, which has been at the centre of political tensions since October 27. The Election Commission’s second phase of revision, spanning nine states and three Union Territories and nearly half of the country’s voters, has drawn criticism from Opposition parties, who allege it was initiated without adequate preparation and under “tight timelines”.
The poll body has extended the SIR schedule by a week, claiming the move aims to ensure “complete transparency”.
Apart from the SIR row, the Opposition is also pressing for discussions on the recent blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, the capital’s worsening air quality and key foreign policy developments.
- With inputs from agencies
